JP2004111659A - Semiconductor integrated circuit device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a low-power consumption by optimizing the supply of voltage. <P>SOLUTION: A semiconductor integrated circuit device is constituted of a plurality of power supply interconnections (22, 23) and power supply selecting switches (25, 25a, 25b) for selecting power supply interconnections (22, 23), corresponding to each functioning units (26, 27a, 27b) and a power supply select control circuit 21 for controlling the power supply selecting switches (25, 25a, 25b). The power supply select control circuit 21 is controlled, in accordance with the operating condition of respective functioning units (26, 27a, 27b), thereby, the power supply voltage, supplied to the functioning units (26, 27a, 27b) which are not being operated, can be lowered. According to this constitution, the low-power consumption is realized, by optimizing the supply of the voltage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device that operates at an arbitrary power supply voltage for each functional unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A layout system using a computer is widely used for layout design of an integrated circuit.
[0003]
Hereinafter, a power supply layout in a conventional semiconductor device will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a power supply layout diagram of a conventional semiconductor device.
[0004]
In FIG. 1, a power supply layout in a conventional semiconductor device is such that a VDD terminal 12 and a VSS terminal 13 are arranged in an IO cell region 11, and a power supply voltage supplied from the VDD terminal 12 is connected to a functional cell 16 via a VDD wiring 14. The ground voltage supplied to the macro 17 and supplied from the VSS terminal 13 is supplied to the functional cell 16 and the hard macro 17 via the VSS wiring 15. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-323688 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the semiconductor integrated circuit device having the conventional power supply layout as described above, the voltage is supplied from the same VDD wiring and VSS wiring to the hard macro and the function cell that operate at the same power supply voltage. During operation of the circuit device, even if there is a functional unit that does not operate, a voltage is supplied to the entire semiconductor integrated circuit device, and a voltage more than necessary is supplied. Had the problem that
[0007]
In order to solve the above problems, a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the present invention aims to realize low power consumption by optimizing the supply of voltage.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a semiconductor integrated circuit device arbitrarily having a function block or a function macro constituted by function cells, and a plurality of power supply wirings. One or more power supply selection switches provided for each of the function blocks and the function macros for selecting power supply lines for supplying power to the function blocks and the function macros; and a power supply selection switch for controlling the operation of the power supply selection switches A control circuit, and selecting a power supply line for supplying power to each of the function blocks and the function macros, thereby arbitrarily selecting a power supply voltage to be supplied to each of the function blocks and the function macros. I do.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the first aspect, the power supply selection control circuit controls each power supply selection switch depending on whether the function block or the function macro is operating or stopped. Controlling, and selecting a power supply voltage to be supplied for each of the functional blocks and the functional macros.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the first aspect, the power supply selection control circuit controls each power supply selection switch corresponding to a power supply voltage consumed by the function block or the function macro. And a power supply voltage to be supplied so as to satisfy the power supply voltage consumed by the function block or the function macro.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the first aspect, the power supply selection control circuit controls each power supply selection switch based on power on / off timing and arbitrary delay information. Switching of the power supply voltage to be supplied by turning on / off the power supply is performed at an arbitrary timing.
[0012]
A semiconductor integrated circuit device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the first aspect, wherein the power supply select control circuit corresponds to each power supply corresponding to the power supply voltage consumed by the function block or the function macro and any delay information. A selection switch is controlled to supply a power supply voltage at an arbitrary timing so as to satisfy the power supply voltage consumed by the function block or the function macro.
[0013]
With the above configuration, the supply of voltage can be optimized, so that low power consumption can be realized.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
First, the configuration of the power supply selection circuit in the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a power supply selection circuit in the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention.
[0016]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 26 denotes a hard macro, and reference numerals 27a and 27b denote arrangement lanes on a layout in which functional cells are arranged. Reference numeral 23 denotes a power supply line for supplying a high voltage power supply voltage, and reference numeral 24 denotes a power supply line for supplying a low voltage power supply voltage. Reference numeral 21 denotes a power supply select control circuit, which outputs a control signal for selecting a power supply voltage to be supplied to each functional unit from a power supply wiring 23 or a power supply wiring 24 via a power supply select bus 22 according to a control signal input from an external control circuit. I do. Reference numerals 25, 25a, and 25b denote power supply selection switches, which select a power supply line for supplying power to each functional unit from the power supply line 23 or the power supply line 24 under the control of the power supply select control circuit 21.
[0017]
With the above configuration, under the control of the power supply selection control circuit 21, the power supply wiring for supplying power to each functional unit such as the hard macro 26, the arrangement lane 27a and the arrangement lane 27b in which the function cells are arranged is changed to the power supply selection switch 25, By selecting from the power supply wiring 23 or the power supply wiring 24 with the power supply selection switch 25a and the power supply selection switch 25b, a power supply voltage can be supplied corresponding to each functional unit.
(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, power supply control of the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0018]
FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating power control according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of power control according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. .
[0019]
In the first embodiment, a power supply selection decoder for controlling the power supply selection control circuit 21 is provided in accordance with the operation states of the functional units such as the hard macros 26 and the arrangement lanes described in FIG. The power supply wiring is selected by inputting information on the operating status as to whether each functional unit is operating or stopped from an external control circuit. Here, a specific function is provided for each arrangement lane by collecting and arranging function cells constituting one function in the arrangement lane. A plurality of power supply voltages can be prepared as the power supply voltage to be selected. In the following description, a case in which two types of power supply voltages, a low power supply voltage and a high power supply voltage, are used will be described.
[0020]
In FIG. 3A, first, the operation of the power supply selection decoder is set based on input information from the external control circuit (S301). Next, the operation status of each functional unit is output from the external control circuit (S302), and input to the power supply selection decoder (S303). Next, the power supply decoder selects a power supply voltage for each functional unit according to the operation status of each functional unit (S304). Finally, according to the selection result of S304, the power supply selection switch 25, the power supply selection switch 25a, and the power supply selection switch 25b are controlled by the control signal from the power supply selection control circuit 21 via the power supply selection bus 22 to supply power to each functional unit. Is selected and connected (S305). At this time, a high power supply voltage is supplied when each functional unit is in an operating state, and a low power supply voltage is supplied when each functional unit is in a stopped state.
[0021]
Here, a specific power supply control will be described by taking as an example a case where the operation of the arrangement lane 27a is stopped from a state where all the functional units are operating.
In FIG. 3B, first, assuming that all the functional units are operating (S306), by controlling the power select control circuit 21 via the power select bus 22, a high power supply for all the functional units is provided. The switches of the power selection switch 25, the power selection switch 25a, and the power selection switch 25b are switched so as to select the voltage (S307). Next, a signal indicating that the operation of the arrangement lane 27a of the functional cell has been stopped (hereinafter referred to as an operation stop signal) is sent from the outside to the power supply select control circuit 21 (S308). Finally, the power supply selection switch 25a is switched by the power supply selection control circuit 21 via the power supply select bus 22 in response to the operation stop signal so as to select a low power supply voltage.
(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, power supply control of the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0022]
FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating power control according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of power control according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. .
[0023]
In the second embodiment, a power supply selection decoder that outputs information corresponding to each power supply step value at which the supplied power supply voltage changes stepwise to the power supply selection control circuit described with reference to FIG. 2 is provided. The power supply voltage values of the respective functional units during operation are compared, and control is performed so as to select a power supply line of a power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply voltage value. A plurality of power supply voltages to be selected can be prepared corresponding to the power supply step value. In the following description, a case where two types of power supply voltages, a low power supply voltage and a high power supply voltage, are used will be described.
[0024]
In FIG. 4A, first, the operation setting of the power supply selection decoder is performed based on the power supply step value input information from the external control circuit (S401). Next, a power supply drop value is confirmed by power supply analysis, or a supply power supply voltage value is compared with a power supply voltage value of each functional unit during operation (S402), and the result is input to a power supply selection decoder (S403) to select a power supply. The power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply step value for each functional unit is selected by the decoder (S404). Finally, according to the selection result of S404, the power supply selection switch 25, the power supply selection switch 25a, and the power supply selection switch 25b are controlled by the control signal from the power supply selection control circuit 21 via the power supply selection bus 22 to supply power to each functional unit. Is selected and connected (S405). Thus, by selecting the power supply voltage to be supplied to each functional unit, a power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply voltage consumed by each functional unit can be supplied.
[0025]
Here, a specific power supply control will be described by taking, as an example, a case where the power supply voltage of the arrangement lane 27a is lower than that of the other functional units.
In FIG. 4B, first, as an initial state, the power supply selection switch 25 and the power supply selection switch 25 select a high power supply voltage for all the functional units under the control of the power supply select control circuit 21 via the power supply select bus 22. The switches of the switch 25a and the power supply selection switch 25b are switched (S406). Next, the power supply voltage of each functional unit is compared with the high power supply voltage (S407). Here, assuming that the power supply voltage of the arrangement lane 27a is lower than the high power supply voltage, the information is sent to the power supply selection control circuit 21 (S408). Finally, the power supply selection switch 25a is used to select a low power supply voltage under the control of the power supply select control circuit 21 via the power supply select bus 22 (S409).
(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, power control of the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0026]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating power supply control according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
In the third embodiment, there is provided an external control circuit which receives information from a circuit for controlling power-on and power-off timings and transmits power on / off signals to the power supply select control circuit described in FIG. The control circuit controls the opening and closing of the power switch. Here, a case will be described in which a power supply line for supplying a power supply voltage and a power supply line for supplying a power supply voltage at a ground level are used as power supply lines to be selected.
[0027]
In FIG. 5, first, the operation setting of a circuit that provides information of power-on and power-off timings to the power supply select control circuit 21 is performed (S501). Next, the external control circuit generates a signal indicating whether the power is on or off (S502), and inputs the signal to the circuit shown in S501 to generate a power-on and power-down signal (S503). . Finally, the power-on and power-off signals generated in S503 are input, and the power supply selection control circuit 21 controls the switching of the power supply selection switch 25, the power supply selection switch 25a, and the power supply selection switch 25b, and Select the power supply wiring to connect to. By controlling the timing of connecting the power supply wiring to each functional unit, the power supply of each functional unit can be turned on or off at the same time as the power is turned on, or the power supply voltage can be turned on or off with a delay Becomes possible.
(Embodiment 4)
Hereinafter, power control of the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0028]
FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating power control according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of power control according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. .
[0029]
In the fourth embodiment, a power supply selection decoder is provided which outputs information corresponding to each power supply step value at which the supplied power supply voltage changes stepwise to the power supply selection control circuit described with reference to FIG. A control signal is received, and a delay is provided when a power supply voltage is supplied to each functional unit.
[0030]
In FIG. 6A, first, the operation of the power supply selection decoder is set based on the power supply step value input information from the external control circuit (S601). Next, a delay control signal for controlling the delay is generated by the external control circuit (S602). Next, the delay additional information of the power supply selection decoder is set based on the delay control signal generated in S602 (S603). Next, the operation for selecting the power supply wiring is set based on the operation set in S601 and the delay set in S603 (S604). Finally, the power supply selection switch 25, the power supply selection switch 25a, and the power supply selection switch 25b are controlled by the control signal from the power supply selection control circuit 21 via the power supply selection bus 22 in accordance with the power supply wiring to be connected and the delay timing determined in S604. Then, a power supply line for supplying power to each functional unit is selected and connected (S605). As described above, the power supply voltage to be supplied to each functional unit can be selected, and the timing of supplying the power supply voltage can be controlled.
[0031]
Here, a specific power supply control will be described by taking, as an example, a case where the power supply voltage of the arrangement lane 27a is lower than that of the other functional units.
In FIG. 6B, first, as an initial state, the power supply selection switch 25 and the power supply selection switch 25a are selected by the power supply selection control circuit 21 via the power supply selection bus 22 so as to select a high power supply voltage for all functional units. Then, the switch of the power supply selection switch 25b is switched (S606). Next, an operation delay signal of the functional cell arrangement lane 27a is sent from the outside to the power supply select control circuit 21 (S607). Finally, the power supply selection control circuit 21 switches the power supply selection switch 25a to select a low power supply voltage at the set timing. At this time, the circuit delay information at the time of the high power supply voltage and the low power supply voltage is set as a library value.
[0032]
As described above, according to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention, low power consumption can be realized by optimizing the supply of voltage.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention, the configuration includes the power supply selection switch for selecting the plurality of power supply wirings and the power supply wiring corresponding to each functional unit and the power supply selection control circuit for controlling the power supply selection switch. By controlling the power supply select control circuit according to the operation state of each functional unit, the power supply voltage supplied to the inactive functional units can be reduced. Further, by controlling the power supply select control circuit based on the power supply voltage value of each functional unit, a power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply voltage of each functional unit can be supplied. In addition, by controlling the power supply select control circuit based on the timing of the rise and fall of the power supply, the timing of power supply can be arbitrarily adjusted. Furthermore, by controlling the power supply select control circuit based on the power supply step and the delay information, it is possible to supply a power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage consumed by each functional unit at an arbitrary timing. As described above, according to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention, low power consumption can be realized by optimizing the supply of voltage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a power supply in a conventional semiconductor device. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a power supply selection circuit in a semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention. FIG. 3A illustrates power control in a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of power supply control according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating power supply control according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of power supply control according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating power supply control according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Flow chart for explaining power control (b) Flow chart for explaining a specific example of power control in Embodiment 4 of the present invention
11 IO cell area 12 VDD terminal 13 VSS terminal 14 VDD wiring 15 VSS wiring 16 Function cell 17 Hard macro 21 Power selection control circuit 22 Power selection bus 23 Power wiring 24 Power wiring 25 Power selection switch 25a Power selection switch 25b Power selection switch 26 Hard macro 27a Arranged lane 27b Arranged lane

Claims (5)

A semiconductor integrated circuit device arbitrarily having a function block or a function macro configured by a function cell,
Multiple power wires,
One or more power supply selection switches provided for each of the function blocks and the function macros and for selecting a power supply line for supplying power to the function blocks and the function macros;
A power supply select control circuit for controlling the operation of the power supply selection switch, and selecting a power supply line for supplying power to each of the function blocks and the function macros, thereby supplying the power supply to each of the function blocks and the function macros A semiconductor integrated circuit device wherein a power supply voltage is arbitrarily selected. The power supply selection control circuit controls each power supply selection switch depending on whether the function block or the function macro is operating or stopped, and selects a power supply voltage to be supplied for each of the function block or the function macro. 2. The semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 1, wherein The power supply select control circuit controls each power supply selection switch according to the power supply voltage of the function block or the function macro, and selects a power supply voltage to be supplied so as to satisfy the power supply voltage of the function block or the function macro. 2. The semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 1, wherein: The power supply selection control circuit controls each power supply selection switch based on power on / off timing and arbitrary delay information, and performs switching of a power supply voltage to be supplied by power on / off at an arbitrary timing. 2. The semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 1, wherein The power supply select control circuit controls each power supply selection switch according to the power supply voltage of the function block or the function macro and any delay information, and controls the power supply voltage of the function block or the function macro at an arbitrary timing. 2. The semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 1, wherein a power supply voltage is supplied so as to satisfy the condition.

Images